8 1/2 : Magic By Federico Fellini

After a month long search I found 8 1/2 neatly placed in Amit Bhaiya's DVD closet( which I must add that it's the best collection I have seen yet, & all of them are going to be stolen by me ). He was the person responsible for arousing curiousity within me for the Film by placing it third in his top twenty list. Ta to him.

8 1/2 was a sheer delight to watch. A magic created by Fellini. Although he never wanted the film to be made as we all see it today. Originally, the script was based upon a writer but Fellini ended up making the film on a movie director. This was nothing other than his autobiographical account in which the director gets confused about the events revolving around him, leading him to fantasies, the problems of his married life, getting the movie underway proves challenging indeed,. Guido (lead character playing the director) is left clueless.The irony is this that there wasnt any film script for 8 1/2. The actors were given their lines each day morning, often verbally. Even Fellini wasnt sure about what he was going to make. This, he also admitted to his producer.All in all, the film started a trend which was to followed & copied by many.

A must watch film. Magical, indeed, none other by Federico Fellini.

Bhopalpatnam : Preparation Of Another Errabor

The dust of Errabor is now settled in our memories. The bloody dawn of 17th july is long back forgotten. The blood stains are invisible from that unfortunate ground now. But still, the question still stands within all of us. What is being done to prevent another genocidal act like Errabor ?

The answer came in the most shocking way, when a group of nearly 20 elected people from Bhopalpatnam ( Dantewada) reached Raipur on 7th November in search of refuge & letting their voice reach the unaware ears of the capital. The truth that came out of them, which was quite impossible without courageous Jogi's help who stood alone yet with many against SJ, was enough to send shivers who were in the mindset of neglecting the happenings that are taking place in the southern most corners of this infant state. The talked freely about their abduction by the SPOs (special protection officers, locally they are better known as the guards of Salwa Judum) while they were on their to meet the C.O. in Dantewada regarding their pending Janpad work. They were then taken to SJ base camp where the humiliation & attrocities continued. All this was done just becuase of a simple reason that these elected representatives did'nt wanted SJ in their Bhopalpatnam block. The mention of the third degree torture on them by SJ was enough to remind me of some scenes from the film Schindeler's list. They were then released the next day with a clear warning of not telling all this to anyone or .....

This answer, I think, is enough.

We learn only this much from past that we dont learn anything from past. The continuance of SJ is making a clear path for another Errabor. Even if naxalites dont kill, SJ surely will. The natives are left there with only two choices : either be a naxalite or a SJ. But ironically SJ is licensed to kill if you are a naxalite ( that is understood ) or even if you are'nt a naxalite but not also SJ. Its quite understood that why these elected repesentatives from Bhopalpatnam took atleast 12 days to reach Raipur, not more than a day long journey. Nietzsche's princple " what does not kills me, make me stronger", seems to be applied on these representatives, who reached Raipur in hope of justice.

Are we all waiting for another Errabor?

Are we prepared to see a genocide, this time by SJ?

Are we making sure that ace human right, that is, Right To Exist, does exist in accordance with SJ?

Some Words Lost Within Me : A Prayer

It is so cold,
It has always been,
Uncovered yet unseen.
In the of realm of eternity,
Through the self with undying pity,
I ploy to attain,
With a touch of pain
To reach you
O’ my lord, my master, my unseen shadow.
Take me unto that fold,
Where it’s not so cold.

This poem is inspired by the vedic verses "Mrityorma Amritam Gamay" ( Take me from death to deathlessness) where cold in the poem means death.